"No, don't say that, Maeve," Victoria pleaded, her voice laced with concern.
Victoria dropped the luggage she had been carrying, her eyes fixed on Maeve as she approached her. "You are and always will be a part of this family. Nothing said or done can ever change that." Victoria reassured softly.
Maeve's gaze was silent and fuming. "I don't think you get it. That's not how it has felt for me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Everything that happened before was a mistake," Victoria said hopefully. "After talking with your father, everything will return to how it was."
Maeve's expression remained sceptical. "What makes you think I would want to come back after how much you all have hurt me?"
Her words took Victoria aback, and she was unsure how to respond. "I was made a shadow in my reflection."
Victoria's expression pinched with distraught. "Why do you talk like that? We would never hurt you, my little Maeve. I believe it's just how you saw things from a wounded place. We tried to make everything better, but you wouldn't cooperate." She gently caressed Maeve's face, trying to soothe the pain. "If you would just stop making up this pain and realise your life was great. Your view will turn around; we can start again. Anything you want, my dear."
Maeve's eyes welled up with tears, but she refused to let them fall. "Hearing you say this, I realise you can be so heartless. You talk like it's something I could easily forget, Mom. You want them to vanish like they never existed, like I'm making them up."
Maeve's voice cracked as she continued. "I didn't make them up. They happened." She bit back harshly, holding back more than she wanted to spill. "I never belonged in your perfect picture family. I was a stain in your eyes." Maeve felt like an old cut had grazed open; the slow burn evolved into a sharp sting.
"What can I do to make you believe that we all want you back?" Victoria said at the pleading edge.
Victoria's face contorted in pain as Maeve retreated one step back, denying her softly cushioned woes and cries. The mere sight of them suffocated Maeve; any closer she got, she would burst not into tears but into anger. She didn't want any of that today.
"I am staying in the guest room, and that's final," Maeve said, her voice firm. "After that, I will leave this house as soon as the will hearing has been announced."
Victoria's expression dulled, and her eyes drooped as though she was about to break. Every emotion she shed in front of Maeve made her even more guarded than before.
None of it was real, Maeve reminded herself softly.
Her fingers crumbled into a tight fist as she heard the heavy footsteps approaching the doorway to the guest room. It revealed Henry Donahue, her father, and Cecilia Donahue, her sister. Their immediate presence was a shock. Maeve hadn't expected to get the full family audience till dinner, which she had planned to skip.
"What's happening here?" Henry's voice boomed. He glances at his wife, looking distraught. "You just came back, and you are already making a fuss." He was enraged.
His gaze scanned the condition of the room. "And what's the meaning of putting your things in the guest room?"
Maeve shrugged. "To settle in, aren't I a guest after all?"
"Is that why you make so much ruckus, and here I thought the city would have done a better job at making sense out of you? But that's not possible," he raged loudly. It would be hard for all not to have heard his words. An embarrassment Maeve wished she didn't have to face minutes after she had arrived.
Cecilia chuckled behind him. An added mockery to his words.
"Stay in the damn guest room if that's what you want so much," he said to Maeve.
"But Henry..." Victoria called out.
Henry gave a stern gaze, which held her in place. "I have had enough for today, and I need not hear more. My decision is final."
They all left, and the exhaustion crept in finally. Maeve crumbled onto the laid-out bed. She groaned, replaying the event that had occurred. At times like this, she missed the calm and quiet her apartment brought. Her bedside window, where she would casually gaze into the city night view. She wanted nothing more than that at that moment. She rolled onto her back; an exasperated sigh escaped her lips.
Whereas in Henry's office, he and Victoria argued. "How could you give in to her demands so easily?" Victoria raised her voice, infuriated.
"She wanted to stay there; what else did you want from me?" he argued back.
"I don't know. Force her; command her if you must," Victoria demanded, her voice barely audible from the hallway.
"She's a grown woman now," he said with deep realisation. Five years had been a long time. "It won't be as easy as you think."
Victoria leaned in; her tone dropped low and cold. "I lost my child once due to your unbearable stubbornness. And I will not let it happen again." With that, she sauntered away. Henry was left in complete turmoil.
The funeral passed by like a breeze, and the will hearing came soon enough much to Maeve's dismay. The lawyer meant to annouce it before the relatives present had yet to arrive. Maeve took the little opportunity she had to grab a glass wine on the table.
Her gaze scattered to the floor filled with guest and relatives who gave damn to be present. She took a sip, catching a glimpse of Christian being one of thos relatives here today. "He came," she thought to herself.
She was deep in thoughts and failed to notice when Cecilia came up behind her.
"Hello sister" her calm sweet voice echoed behind her. Maeve froze in her steps. Knowing it was too late to make a drastic flee away. She steeled herself prepared for whatever she had to say.
"I would have said it's a pleasure but we all know that's not true," Maeve spat venomously at her.
Cecilia broke into a laugh, she gently brushed the tears that dared fall from the corner of her eyes. "we happen to be on the same page" she answered.
There were two other females beside her. Maeve couldn't recognise them. Not that they seemed important.
"What do you want?" Maeve asked, tired of her threats.
"I know all about the unfortunate situation you have been in. It must have been hard living like that all these years." She mocked with a dry laugh. Her tone turned serious. "Mom wants you back. So return now while we are asking nicely."
"Can you hear yourself? Why would I want anything to do with this family? Getting renounced was the best decision I ever made for myself. My life couldn't be any better." Cecilia was shocked by her response. Thinking she would beg at the opportunity she gets.
"You can't defy father by being stubborn," she muttered coldly.
"I'd like to see how far he can go," Maeve dared boldly.
"Have it your way. Don't say I didn't warn you. When you have nowhere to go, you'll come back crawling."
Just then the lawyer came in, and everyone hurried to their seats. Cecilia left.